THE ED MYLETT SHOW

"The Conversations That Shaped a Year"

Air Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Ed Mylett | Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode, "The Conversations That Shaped a Year," is a reflective compendium of the most powerful insights, stories, and lessons delivered throughout the year on THE ED MYLETT SHOW. Ed Mylett and a diverse lineup of guests—including Judge Frank Caprio, a survivor of gang violence, leadership and mental health experts, entrepreneurs, and investors—share personal stories and practical wisdom on kindness, leadership, trauma, resilience, service, time, financial success, adaptability, mental health, and more. The episode is a showcase of vulnerability, practical advice, and motivational through lines aimed at helping listeners become the best versions of themselves.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Legacy of Kindness with Judge Frank Caprio

[00:57 – 09:49]

Upbringing and Perspective on Poverty

• Judge Caprio describes growing up poor as a 'privilege':
  “I did have the privilege of being brought up poor because I appreciated, because of my upbringing with both parents ... the fabric of America and the riches that we have here, not so much in money, but in what we were entitled to and how we're treated.” (01:36)

• On parents as role models of kindness:
  Caprio shares stories of his mother feeding anyone in need in the neighborhood, and his father, a milkman, never refusing delivery to families with children, regardless of their ability to pay.
  “These were the examples that I saw ... by way of example, these weren't speeches that were given to me ... all they did was they did.” (03:28)

Early Judicial Mistake and Lifelong Lesson

• First day as judge and lesson from his father:
  After fining a struggling mother too harshly, Caprio’s father admonishes him for lacking compassion—a formative moment.
  “How could you do that? You can't do that to people. ... She was scared. ... That set the stage for my entire judgeship, that first day on the bench with my dad giving me hell.” (04:04)

Philosophy on Service

• “A good life is service to others. That's a good life. Self aggrandizement is not a good life. Personal wealth is not a good life. But treating others with respect and dignity and helping when you can, that's a good life.” (06:58)

On Family as Foundation

• Caprio emphasizes the critical role of a loving, supportive family in breaking cycles of trauma and poverty.
  "The basic unit of society is the family unit. And that's where it all comes from ... our greatest goal in life was to be of service to others." (07:35)

On Humility and Legacy

• “I want to be remembered as someone that helped other people ... particularly those in need.” (09:49)

2. Transformational Testimony: Surviving Trauma and Addiction

[10:00 – 17:53]

Surviving a Random Shooting

• Survivor recounts being shot eight times in a random gang initiation:
  “He stood right over top of me and pointed the gun straight down at me ... and then he shot me seven more times.” (10:15)

Journey Through Forgiveness and Addiction

• On bitterness and healing:
  "I don't know if I believe that anyone can fully be healed from all of the traumatic things they go through. You can find a sense of peace and you can find some freedom. But it's our humanity that will still have moments where we're broken." (12:55)

• On addiction recovery:
  "I finally reached that level of forgiveness and I just became broken. ... I went to this treatment center for one year and I fell down to my knees ... and that's the moment I felt everything shift ... It was different. And I think the different part was, is I asked God to help me. ... I needed Jesus and therapy. And that was 16 years ago. And I've been clean ever since ..." (14:39 - 16:11)

Embracing Purpose Post-Trauma

• Stayed at the treatment center to help others for four years:
  "I stayed on as a staff member to help. No pay, no anything, to help people." (16:55)

Faith and Message of Hope

• “In all things, God is working together for the good. It’s not some things. It’s even the most terrible, horrific things.” (20:25)
• “If you just hold on and take one more step ... you’ll see that God has had you in his hand all along.” (21:04)

3. Modern Leadership: Adaptability & Emotional Engagement

[23:03 – 30:46]

The Evolving Role of Leadership

• People want to support what they create:
  “People support what they create. What this means is they need to be part of creating that vision more than ever ... If they didn’t, they’re like, yeah, dude, stop bossing me around.” (24:07)

• On emotional leadership:
  “Each day you have to emotionally enroll people more than you ever did ... leaders, you probably have to engage people more than you think you do on a more emotional level and more consistently the more dynamic and change is happening.” (25:34)

Competence vs. Connection in the Age of AI

• “Now everybody on their pocket has the world’s intelligence ... With AI ... Adaptability is like constant now. People who don’t like change are really going to hate the next five years ..." (27:24)

The Value of Joy and Playfulness

• “You don't win the game of life unless you play. ... If you had more days where you felt it and there was a sense of satisfaction, joy, fulfillment, but also playfulness ...” (29:12)

4. Rethinking Time, Wealth, and Family

[30:52 – 43:24]

The Value of Time and Presence

• Powerful moment realizing the finite time with loved ones:
  “So you're going to see your parents 15 more times before they die. ... The idea that the amount of time you have left with the people you care about most in the world is that finite and countable ... shook me to the core.” (32:31)

• “You are actually much more in control of your time than you think ... you can actually go and make it.” (32:00)

Wealth, Seasons, and Dimmer Switch Living

• “Your life has seasons... these other areas importantly have to exist. On dimmer switches, not on off switches.” (33:25)
• “Anything above zero compounds in your life ... optimal gets in the way of beneficial.” (35:21)

Balancing Ambition and Meaning

• “It’s so much more important to climb slowly up the right mountain than to climb fast up the wrong one.” (39:24)

5. Entrepreneurship: Loneliness, Adaptability, and Joy

[43:32 – 52:13]

Entrepreneurial Realities

• On the real struggle:
  “It's the sleepless nights. ... when something terrible happens in the company and you think this is it and you're just there alone.” (44:04)
• “Entrepreneurship, you think is hard, but you never expect it to be that lonely.” (44:29)

Embracing Risks and Imperfection

• “If they're trying to achieve perfection, they will not achieve greatness. So the only way to become very successful is to embrace the mistakes.” (48:54)
• “Your belief has to be greater than everyone else's doubt in you.” (49:41)

Adaptability is Key

• “If you can't think of the last time you pivoted, that's a problem ... The world's going to move twice as fast. But your mental state of being able to adapt ... will be the key to your success.” (47:24)

6. Mental Health: Resilience, Anxiety, and Authenticity

[52:15 – 63:24]

Anxiety as a Signal, Not a Disorder

• “A lot of this has to do with our capacity. We are tea bags. We don’t know how strong we are until we’re in hot water.” (52:25)
• “Mental health ... is here to protect us. Our peace is a muscle. ... Our resilience is us training our mental health so we can deal with the BS that’s definitely going to find us in the outside world.” (53:32)

Action Over Overthinking

• “Overthinking is believing your intuition doesn't work ... our brain is tricking us into thinking we’re solving this problem by constantly revisiting it and creating new problems.” (54:33)

Self-Worth and Achievements

• “Our identity and our value is based on this external thing. ... I'm a human being, I'm not a human doing, I'm just here to be.” (56:28)

• Key advice to manage anxiety:

  • Instead of “I’m anxious,” say “I feel anxious because …” and finish the sentence.
  • Build a better relationship with your emotions; happiness is found in presence and authenticity, not achievement. (56:28 - 57:42)

7. Social Media and FOMO

[57:42 – 63:24]

• On social media’s effect:
  “Throw your phone in the pool, throw it in the ocean ... There’s no safe space for empathy and nuance on social media. People are fighting for attention.” (57:59)
• “Trying to go from FOMO to JOMO, the fear of missing out to the joy of missing out ... everybody is a social butterfly if they’re in the right garden.” (61:05)

Redefining Failure and Decision-Making

• “Ray Dalio always says, it's not your 10,000 hours that makes you a master, it's your 10,000 trial and errors.” (60:17)
• "Don’t worry about making the right decision. Worry about making the decision right.” (60:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Judge Frank Caprio:
  “That set the stage for my entire judgeship, that first day on the bench with my dad giving me hell.” (04:04)
• Survivor/Testimonial Guest:
  “Just because I got shot doesn’t make me any different from another person. We’ve all been through some very heavy things. Healing takes time for everybody.” (12:30)
• Leadership Expert:
  “People support what they create. ... They need to have autonomy in how to go after that thing more than ever.” (24:07)
• Host/Announcer:
  “So you’re going to see your parents 15 more times before they die. ... That just shook me to the core.” (32:31)
• Entrepreneur/Investor:
  “Your belief has to be greater than everyone else’s doubt in you.” (49:41)
• Mental Health Expert/Therapist:
  "Anxiety is when your intelligence is growing faster than your courage. Instead of using the imagination for curiosity ... it uses imagination for judgment." (55:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Judge Frank Caprio on Kindness & Judge's Lesson: 00:57 – 09:49
• Survivor Story on Trauma, Healing, and Faith: 10:00 – 21:56
• Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World: 23:03 – 30:46
• Time, Family & Rethinking Success: 30:52 – 43:24
• Entrepreneurship: Reality & Resilience: 43:32 – 52:13
• Mental Health & Resilience: 52:15 – 63:24

Closing Reflections

This episode weaves the wisdom of high performers, survivors, and experts into a tapestry of hope, humility, service, and practical action. Ed Mylett and guests call for a more considered life—one founded on real connection, intentional adaptability, faith, and the daily pursuit of self-betterment without sacrificing meaning, relationships, or authenticity.

“Remarkable conversation today, everyone. Hope you get it and I hope you share this episode. God bless you. Max out your life.” (63:24)

For anyone needing inspiration, emotional tools, or tactical frameworks to max out their year ahead—this episode is a must-listen.